Two businessmen docked for importation, sale of fake cosmetics products in Lagos

Two businessmen docked for importation, sale of fake cosmetics products in Lagos

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered that a Lagos-based businessman, Benson Maduka, be remanded in prison custody over alleged importation and sale of unregistered cosmetic products.

Similarly, it convicted and imposed a fine of N150,000 on a trader, Izuchukwu Chikelu, for the sale of fake cosmetic products.

The trial judge, Justice Abdulaziz Anka , gave the orders following the arraignment of the duo by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on two-count charge of importing and selling fake cosmetic products.

On Maduka’s case, NAFDAC prosecutor, Umar Shamaki, said the accused person imported unregistered lotion and whitener contrary to Section 1 (1) of the Food, Drug and Related Product Act and punishable under Section 6 (a) of the same Act.

Maduka, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Justices Anka subsequently adjourned Maduka’s case till June 14 for the hearing of his bail application and the commencement of trial.

But on Chikelu’s case, the judge convicted him after he pleaded guilty to a five-count charge of possession and sale of some fake cosmetic products without lawful authorization.

The convict, who was first arraigned on May 8, had pleaded guilty to the charge, a development which made the judge to adjourn the case till yesterday, for review of fact and sentencing.

In his judgment, Justice Anka noted the conduct of the convict in court and the fact that the sections of the law under which he was docked gave the court the discretion of imposing a fine.

He, therefore, ordered the Chikelu to pay N50,000 on counts one and two, N50,000 on counts three and four and another N50,000 on count five.